Cops: Dad killed child via blunt force trauma

PAWTUCKET — The father of a 10-year-old city girl who brought her, beaten and unconscious, to Miriam Hospital on Wednesday has now been charged with her murder.
The suspect, Jorge DePina, 32, of 48 Knowles St., had earlier been charged by police with first-degree child abuse and cruelty to or neglect of child in connection with the case involving his daughter, Aleida DePina.
On Friday, the Rhode Island medical examiner ruled the cause of the girl's death as blunt force trauma and internal injuries. Following the release of the autopsy results police amended the charges to also include second-degree murder.
DePina had been arrested by hours after he carried his daughter into Miriam Hospital at about 5:15 p.m., where she was later pronounced dead. Police said the girl's body had bruises and what appeared to be burn marks. DePina told detectives that he had found his daughter unconscious, but had no explanation for her bruises and burns, police said
Based upon the injuries sustained by the victim, Jorge DePina had been taken into custody and charged the abuse and neglect counts.
On July 4, DePina appeared before a bail commissioner and bail was set at $35,000 with surety. Police said then that the investigation was continuing and that additional criminal charges might be brought after the cause of the girl's death had been officially determined.
On Friday afternoon, DePina, a heavy set man with thickly braided hair, appeared in District Court, where the third charge of second-degree murder was added to the other two charges. He is represented by a public defender. He was ordered held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston.